Speak with an experienced advisor
Speak with an experienced advisor
Globus
OFFER ID 1515281
Originally chanted at the toreros during bullfights, "Olé!" is now a term used to congratulate anyone’s exceptional performance in sunny and live-in-the-moment Spain. Prepare for those two happy syllables to roll off your tongue as you discover the past and modern-day feats of everyone from artists and architects to chefs and winemakers throughout this lively tour of Spain. Our most in-depth look at the land of the nonstop fiesta, this 14-day tour leads you from city to city and coast to coast for Picasso and paella, fortresses and flamenco, and Gaudi and the great Rioja wines. Equally satisfying is seeing the legendary backdrops used for some of classic literature’s finest prose-from Granada’s Moorish Alhambra complex to Pamplona’s famous Calle Estafeta, the famous street where the annual "running of the bulls" takes place. Olé!
13 nights from $3,699 per person
Spanish Fiesta
Day 1 ARRIVE IN MADRID, SPAINWelcome to Madrid! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
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Day 2 MADRID Masterpieces in Madrid MADRID Guided sightseeing includes the Prado Museum and sights of the Cibeles Fountain and Calle Alcala. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ART & ARCHITECTURE The Prado Museum houses one of the world’s largest art collections, including its amazing assortment of masterpieces by historic artists like Velasquez, Goya, and El Greco. The famous museum also displays the works of renowned European masters, including Rubens and Rembrandt, along with a stunning collection of Greco-Roman statues.
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Day 3 MADRID–SEGOVIA–BURGOS–VITORIA Spanish Treasures SEGOVIA See the Roman Aqueduct.
BURGOS Take an orientation walk and see the Cathedral of Santa Maria.
VITORIA Free time late afternoon to browse. (B,D)
286 mi / 460 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ART & ARCHITECTURE The Cathedral of Santa Maria is a wonderful example of the flamboyant Gothic- style which gives her an unmistakable profile. This revered stop along the Camino de Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route is also the final resting place of the legendary Castilian folk-hero El Cid.
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Day 4 VITORIA–BILBAO–SAN SEBASTIAN–PAMPLONA Walk, Don’t Run BILBAO Take a guided visit of the Guggenheim Museum.
SAN SEBASTIAN Enjoy free time to browse and for lunch.
PAMPLONA Walk along the Calle Estafeta, followed by a Rioja wine-pairing dinner at Basaburua restaurant. (B,D)
168 mi / 270 km
LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Best known as the narrow cobblestone gauntlet where the running of the bulls takes place in Pamplona, Calle Estafeta is a haven for food lovers where tapas and wine are always on the menu at Restaurante Basaburua in the heart of the city.
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Day 5 PAMPLONA–SARAGOSSA–BARCELONA Going for Baroque in Aragon SARAGOSSA An orientation walk includes Plaza del Pilar. Enjoy free time for lunch.
Scenic drive en route to Barcelona. (B)
311 mi / 500 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURE & TRADITION Loved for its folklore, fantastic food, and fascinating landmarks such as the Basílica del Pilar, Saragossa delights with brilliant Baroque architecture that have earned the capital of Spain's Aragon region the designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Day 6 BARCELONA Gaudi’s Masterpiece BARCELONA Guided sightseeing includes sights of the Columbus Monument, Plaza de Cataluña, and panoramic views of the city and harbor from Montjuïc Hill. Visit the Sagrada Familia Basilica. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CUTURAL GEM The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia stands in Barcelona as a monument to the Holy Family and a testament to the masterwork of Antoni Gaudi. Built on the reliance of donations since the first stone was laid more than 130 years ago, the iconic church remains an unfinished masterpiece and the world’s longest-running construction project – slated for completion in 2026 on the 100th anniversary of the architect’s death.
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Day 7 BARCELONA–VALENCIA Vibrant Views of Valencia VALENCIA Guided sightseeing features a photo stop at the Arts and Sciences Complex and a traditional Horchata (drink made from tiger nuts) tasting. (B,D)
230 mi / 370 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ART & ARCHITECTURE Marvel at the architecture of La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (The City of Arts and Sciences) in Valencia. This gleaming, ultra-modern complex is the largest of its kind in Europe, with its strikingly futuristic design mirroring the surrounding water park, and a stunning symbol of the Spanish city, which houses a planetarium, an oceanarium, and an interactive museum.
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Day 8 VALENCIA–GRANADA Grand Granada Scenic drive toward the mountains past cave dwellings near Guadix and Purullena en route to Granada.
GRANADA Enjoy free time in the late afternoon, followed by dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
336 mi / 540 km
FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE Take in the Renaissance architecture and unmistakeable Moorish influence mixed with modern style in Granada, one of eastern Andalusia’s most fascinating cities. Poised at the foot of the magnificent Sierra Nevada mountains, Granada lies between the Darro and Genil rivers with a wealth of grand Islamic architecture, endless tapas, cold beer, and lively streets.
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Day 9 GRANADA–COSTA DEL SOL Splendid Spain GRANADA Guided walking tour includes the Alhambra complex and the Water Gardens of the Generalife. (B)
103 mi / 165 km
NOTE:
Day 9 Alhambra complex: Entrance to Nasrid Palace is not guaranteed
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ARCHITECTURAL GEMS Granada’s Alhambra Complex stands as one of the largest ancient aristocratic sites of Western Muslim culture. Its leafy lanes and streams enhance the grand water gardens of Generalife at the once summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid rulers.
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Day 10 COSTA DEL SOL. EXCURSION TO MÁLAGA Time for Tapas COSTA DEL SOL [LF] Join an excursion to Málaga for a guided walking tour through the Old City and tapas tasting at the famous El Pimpi Bodega. Free time to explore. (B)
22 mi / 35 km
LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES El Pimpi occupies an 18th-century home on an ancient Roman road in Málaga. Converted into a wine cellar in 1971, this popular place for tapas and wine maintains its enchanting atmosphere in its halls and patios. Named after the legendary Málaga character, “Pimpi,” who assisted sea crews and passengers arriving at the historic Málaga port, this popular bodega is also owned in part by actor and native of Málaga, Antonio Banderas.
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Day 11 COSTA DEL SOL–GIBRALTAR–SEVILLE La Plaza de Toros Border crossing to Gibraltar.
GIBRALTAR Guided sightseeing includes St. Michael’s Caves.
SEVILLE [LF] Visit the famous Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla, the royal bull ring. (B,D)
199 mi / 320 km
LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURE & TRADITION Step into the ring of Spanish history and heritage, the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla (Royal Bullring), where over the centuries matadors have confronted bulls in a show of pageantry and pride.
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Day 12 SEVILLE The Squares of Seville SEVILLE Visit the Plaza de España. Guided sightseeing includes Casa de Pilatos, and a walk through the Santa Cruz quarter. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT Walk through Seville’s picturesque Plaza de España, originally built for Seville's Ibero-American Expo at the 1929 World's Fair, the 540,000-square-foot plaza features a sprawling mosaic patio – an architectural tour de force. Explore the historic Santa Cruz quarter in a magical maze of tapas, flamenco, and cafés.
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Day 13 SEVILLE–CORDOBA–MADRID Treasures of Cordoba CORDOBA Guided walking tour includes the Mosque of the Caliphs. Free time to browse.
MADRID Enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
360 mi / 580 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE The Mosque of Córdoba (Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba in Spanish) today is a Catholic but was originally a mosque built for Muslim prayer by Abd ar-Rahman I in the 8th century. The mosque’s architecture is rich in dazzling detail, with over 800 granite and marble pillars supporting its beautiful brick and stone arches - a major focal point in the mosque along with the soaring bell tower – the tallest structure in the city.
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Day 14 MADRIDSafe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
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Granada with Flavors of Sturgeon (Optional Dive In)
Overview: Immerse yourself in a private guided visit to the world's first certified Organic caviar farm, nestled in a serene village in the mountains. Experience the thrill of diving into a sturgeon pool with the utmost safety and guidance led by our expert technicians. Prepare to be enchanted by an exclusive tasting session, where you can relish the distinct flavors of the organic caviar, promising a gastronomic journey like no other.
Duration: 3 Hours
Spain: Valencia Highlights Tour - 5 hours
Nestled along the sunny Costa Azahar the orange blossom coast lies the beautiful, city of Valencia, where ancient history meets modern innovation and everything in between.
Your private bilingual guide will pick you up and show you the secrets of the famous City of Arts and Sciences, taking you past the original, medieval city gates, among other historical and emblematic sites, before you enter the bustling, pedestrian historic city center where you’ll find ancient Roman ruins at the L’Almoina underground archeological museum. You’ll also visit La Lonja Silk Exchange, our prized UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s greatest examples of gothic architecture.
You´ll also see and hear the stories of the Basilica in the Plaza de la Virgen, as well as the Cathedral and many of our city plazas such as the main Plaza Ayuntamiento, where locals and tourists gather together for business and leisure. Your guide will help you expertly maneuver the busy Mercado Central, where locals buy and sell fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, wines and more.
After all that exploring, you’re sure to work up an appetite. it's time to stop to taste the famous Horchata drink with the sweet traditional fartons.
What's Included?
Highlights of Valencia (4 hours)
Highlights:
Admire the remarkable riverside designs of renowned contemporary architect Calatrava en route to the 15th century Silk Exchange of the Llotja. Stop for a glass of horchata en route to the beautiful Gothic cathedral, where the supposed Holy Grail is treasured.
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Tour can operate: Morning/Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
Also known by its Basque name of Iruna, Pamplona, Spain, is a proud, prosperous, devout and usually conservative town with city walls and cobbled streets. The city, 195 mi/315 km northeast of Madrid, is the capital of the green province-region of Navarra, which borders France.
The central square is the Plaza del Castillo, dominated by the Neo-classical Palacio del Gobierno de Navarra and also home to one of Spain's finest cafes, the Cafe Iruna. The streets of the old town fill the space between this square and the cathedral, largely Gothic in style but with a facade added in the 18th century. The other main sight not to miss is the Museo de Navarra in a converted hospital, which has some large Roman mosaics among its other historical and archaeological exhibits.
The town's sedate personality gets turned upside down during the fiesta of San Fermin that runs 6-14 July each year. Immortalized in Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, the fiesta's most famous event is the running of the bulls. Each day at 8 am, the brave, foolish or drunk take to the narrow, barricaded streets to run alongside (or away from) six fighting bulls.
Less dangerous (but still exhausting) are the other activities that run the full week of the festival, including parades of giant figures, marauding bands, fireworks, endless dancing and lots of drinking.
If you can handle only a day or two of such merriment, try to make it to the first day or two of the fiesta (the weekend is the busiest time). The celebration that explodes at noon on 6 July is an incredible sight (plan to be soaked by champagne).
If you hope to stay in the city, accommodations should be booked at least a year in advance—be sure to get a room facing away from the street because the noise is relentless. Temporary campsites are set up on the outskirts of the city, and shuttle buses provide transport into town. Note also that petty crime is rife at this time.
Pamplona makes a good base from which to explore the rest of Navarra. Highlights of the province are the restored fairy-tale castle at Olite, the carved portal of the church at Sanguesa, the medieval town of Estella (Lizarra), the pilgrim bridge at Puente La Reina, the two monasteries of La Oliva and Leyre, Javier Castle (birthplace of St. Francis Xavier) and, near the French border, the tiny town of Roncesvalles, a traditional starting point for pilgrims heading across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia via the Saint James' Way.
Art and Architecture in Barcelona (8 hours)
Highlights:
An architectural delight awaits you today in Barcelona, one of the most exciting cities in Europe. Receive a warm greeting at the port by your private guide and driver and commence your full-day tour with a visit to Gaudi's masterpiece, the impressive, but unfinished Sagrada Familia. Although work started on this project in 1882, this iconic church is not expected to be complete until 2028!
Next, visit Parc Guell, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi's most colourful creations. Continue along Passeig de Gracia, to view Gaudi's Casa Batlló and Casa Mila from the outside, with its brilliant wave-like façade.
After lunch, lose yourself in the narrow streets of the true heart of the city - the medieval Gothic Quarter. Here you will visit the magnificent 13th-century Cathedral, and the Picasso Museum, where some of the painter's earliest works are housed. At the end of your tour you are transferred back to the port.
Highlights:
Receive a warm greeting at the port from your private guide and driver and commence your half-day tour with a visit to Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece; the impressive, but unfinished Sagrada Familia. Although work started on this project in 1882, this iconic church is not expected to be completed until 2028!
Continue on to Parc Guell, a beautiful municipal garden with a superb panoramic view over the city; the focal point is a colourful sea-serpent-shaped central terrace. Visit the gatehouse where Gaudi lived during his later years which is now a museum dedicated to him. Transfer back to the port at the end of your tour.
Overview: Uncover the most authentic side of Barcelona riding the world's best folding bike, a Brompton. Be led by an expert bike guide and venture into a unique and exclusive experience. Connect with your local guide by sharing and listening to trivia stories about Barcelona. Embark on a ride to explore the least touristy Eixample and Gracia districts. Glimpse the Plaça d'Espanya, the Hospital de la Santa Creu, Sant Pau, and modernist estates.
Duration: 3 Hours
Overview: Experience the thrill of sailing the Barcelona Coastline. Glimpse the Barcelona skyline from a different perspective and spot some landmarks, including Frank Gehry Golf Fish Sculpture and the Twin Towers", Torres Venecianas. Immerse yourself in the serene deep blue while seeping your glass of wine. Weather permitting, anchor and venture in a short swim.
Duration: 4 Hours
Overview: Uncover the dedication of a biodynamic winegrowers family committed to excellence in long-aged wines. Venture on a stroll around the winery's iconic vineyards to discover the distinctive features of a unique spot in the Penedès region. Sheltered by the woods, taste a base wine paired with a light snack. Elevate your experience by savoring three long-aged sparkling wines, a limited-edition white wine, and an extra-virgin olive oil.
Duration: 4 Hours
From Market to Home with a Top Chef
Overview: Led by a top Chef who graduated from the prestigious Cordon Bleu School in Paris, embark on an exclusive gourmet journey at her private penthouse. Head to a 19th-century local market and thoroughly select the finest ingredients for your recipe. Dare to partake in the cooking process while you uncover some secrets of high-end cuisine. Savor the combination of flavors paired with a premium selection of Spanish Wines.
Duration: 4 Hours
Hike a World of Nature (7,5 miles)
Overview: Step away from the bustling Barcelona and embrace Catalonia's unique landscape with La Garrotxa and Fageda d'en jordà. Venture into an exciting 7,5 miles hike through the Natural Park of the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa. Engage in a circular route through La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. Ascend to the inside of Santa Margarita volcano and discover a chapel lying on its crater. Dive into Fageda d'en Jordà, a unique beech forest that grows on the lava flow of Croscat Volcano. Finalize your trail with a stop at the Croscat Volcano grederes.
Duration: 4 Hours
Montserrat Discovery Hike (5 miles)
Overview: Ancient Wonders and hidden gems await you on the famous needles of Montserrat Mountain. Venture into an exciting and intimate hike connecting you to Montserrat's outlandish and most authentic elements. Uncover the region of Agulles and the north face of Montserrat, passing between the needles, having to take some steps climbing ropes, and ending up visiting emblematic places such as Cadireta or Foradada.
Duration: 4 Hours
Overview: Marvel at Montserrat Mountain's impressive scenic views. With a bird' s-eye view, witness these massive conglomerates, which form unexpectedly imposing sculptures due to their geological evolution. They all have names related to their shapes, and we find caves, chasms, and torrents in their shelter.
Flying over the Montserrat mountain, the spiritual Center of Catalonia is undoubtedly one of the most surprising and impressive experiences.
Duration: 1 Hour
Historic Influences of Seville (8 hours)
Highlights:
Explore the vibrant heart of Andalucía during your full day shore excursion today. You receive a warm greeting by your driver at the port in Cádiz prior to your private transfer to Seville (a 2-hour journey approximately). Upon arrival, you will be met by your expert guide who will take you on an absorbing walking tour.
Visit the 15th-century Cathedral, one of the most breath-taking in all of Christendom. Your guide also shows you Seville's most famous monument, the Moorish tower of La Giralda. Other highlights of your tour include the Alcazar, a magnificent 14th-century Mudejar palace and the labyrinth of streets and squares of the Barrio de Santa Cruz which are delicately perfumed with orange blossom. This area is the old Jewish Quarter and every street and courtyard offers a new story that your guide will bring to life for you. After your tour, your driver transfers you back to your ship in Cádiz.
An Immersion into the World of Olive Oil
Overview: Enjoy a private guided visit to an Olive oil producer led by a family member. Learn the olive oil production process from the olive fields to the final product. Pamper your taste buds with a comparative tasting of extra virgin olive oils. Witness a passionate family tradition and the careful process of olive oil extraction, the “Liquid Gold” of Andalusia. Delight with a gourmet tasting and lunch served in one of the oil mill's private rooms.
Duration: 1H30
Quintessential Brave Bull Breeding Journey
Overview: Embark on an exclusive journey and explore one of Spain's most prestigious bull-breeding ranches. Discover the vital role bull farming plays in Spain's ecological and cultural heritage. Experience the life and care of the noblest and majestic toro bravos. Unveil the ranch's facilities, from the pasture where the animals graze, breed, and rear their offspring to the bullring, where young bulls are assessed for fighting potential.
Duration: 1H30
Overview: Discover Seville from another point of view. Indulge in a private Guadalquivir river cruise while glimpsing Seville's most beautiful panoramas, including the historical center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Observe Triana's picturesque 19th-century famous houses and enchanting bridges. Delight your senses with a premium selection of local tapas.
Duration: 1H30
Flamenco Gastronomic Experience
Overview: Step beyond the ordinary on your Madrid journey and experience the world's most famous and only Flamenco tablao in a Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant. Featuring award-winning artists recognized in Spain and at the top flamenco festivals, immerse yourself in an exclusive and extraordinary Flamenco gastronomic Journey.
Duration: 1 Hour
Overview: Feel at home in Madrid, hosted by a local Madrilene who will introduce you to authentic Spanish culture. With a background in haute cuisine, your Chef invites you for an intimate meal at her splendid elegant flat in the Salamanca district, one of Madrid's most elegant and glamorous neighborhoods. Relax and unwind as you savor a mouthwatering meal prepared with dedication, and love, feeling as if you were in the comfort of your own home.
Duration: 2 Hours
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.